Speaking of which, he hasn't had one in almost 3 days. Is this cause for concern, Ruttager?

And while we're talking about bowel movements, I have a friend who said hasn't taken a crap in 48 days... Is that even possible?
- laughs2907

With his abs, anything is possible.

We could use one or two of those...

Anthony Mantha is another player would would be a good fit for the Oilers
- Reveen

Hahahahahaha (frank) NO!

Zykov is a RW.
- TandA4Flames

Not this again Is it so hard to realize that he can play both wings? I thought you were smarter than this

According to what I've read recently (including, but not limited to Tessier's blog), Burmistrov is unlikely to accept a contract extension in the Peg so long a Noel is still coach. I say we get right on that! Burmistrov's possession statistics are fairly impressive as he played against relatively average competition despite typically having below-average linemates. He's young, he's got some wheels, he's got slick hands, and a reasonably sized body. I'd love to see a 1B line like this:

Nichushkin- Burmistrov- Yakupov

OR

Zykov- Burmistrov- Yakupov

I'm sorry, but I'd just love to see a team that has an all-Canadian first line and then an all-Russian 2nd (or 1A/1B in this case). Assuming you were guaranteed to sign with the Oilers at a fair price, what would you offer Winnipeg in exchange for his rights?

They could trade the pick, sure, but I'm hoping that instead they take the opportunity to trade up if they are sold on a player. I personally really like Barkov. A big center with skill who can win faceoffs? Those do not grow on trees and you cannot trade for them once they are established. It is exactly what Edmonton needs to complement their small skilled wingers.

I would rather Edmonton package their #7 pick with Sam Gagner to Nashville for the #4 pick if Barkov is still available than seeing them trade for Yandle. Would Nashville go for this? Their top center and forward from last year, Legwand, got 2 less goals and 13 less points than Gagner. Sam had 10 more points than Nashville's leading scorer, Shea Weber. He is a huge skill upgrade in their top two center spots and it would cost Nashville no roster players or prospects and still keep them in the top 10 of the draft. A top two center for a marginally worse draft spot when there is no huge talent gap between 4 and 7? Should be a no-brainer for the Preds.

With Gagner traded, the Oilers can try to give Sam's money to Bozak. Bozak takes the #2 center spot next year while Barkov learns the ropes and in the not too distant future the top nine look like (give or take a Hemsky):
Hall - RNH - Eberle
Paajarvii - Barkov - Yakupov
Hartikainen - Bozak - Hemsky
Essentially the trade is Gagner and #7 for Bozak and Barkov. A trade I would make all day. And if the Oilers can't snag a FA center? Well, they limp along with Horcoff in the #2 spot for a year or two. Not the end of the world. Kariya and Selanne prospered with the lesser talented Rucchin. Bertuzzi and Naslund prospered with Morrow. Throw any of Hall, Yakupov, and/or Eberle in with Horcoff and you'll still have a decent line (ignoring the sounds of protest from the Horcoff haters).

I'm sold on Barkov. I hope the Oilers organization is too and has the stones to do what's needed to get him.
- Centacre

I see moving up as a legitimate possibility. As you suggest if there's a player they want, go get him.

I see moving up as a legitimate possibility. As you suggest if there's a player they want, go get him.
- Sabata

There are good players that teams may want all the way through the top 20. Who knows what scouts might suggest. There is always an odd ball pick that no one sees coming. We are certain of the top 3. That is a done deal.

On Bob Staufer today they had a writer from Florida and another one (didn't catch where, I was filling up with gas). They were suggesting that one of the two players Nashville has expressed interest in (other than Barkov) was Nich. Personally I thought they would pass on Barkov for having a Russian father but apparently they don't remember radulov. Barkov could very easily be available at number 5. It was the consensus of many, including one of the scouting services that Nich is better than Barkov and IMO its a coin toss.

It was also suggested that Horvat was extremely underrated and will go top 10. Lazar is projected to slip into the 20s. Horvat they are calling a more "pure center." Better in the dot and a two way guy. Personally I think we need to find a way to get Monahan or Nich. Lind is actually a really good player but I am not positive how good. I can see him slipping to the mid teams as some Europeans do.

Nurse is not a bad pick. Someone might bight on him. He is a safe pick. He will be at least a 3-4 dman, probably a 1-2. It might take him 4 years to get there but he is the only D that everyone agrees on other than Seth.

My vote:
Our 7th over all pick this year
Our 5th round pick this year
Acrobella

To Nashville
Their 4 th pick over all
and their 4th round this year

Acrobella is a great asset. A proven asset but he will mature when Rajala does and we can't play both. We have tried him in the NHL. It wasn't a good sign. He is worth bumping 3 spots though. Or to Carolina for 2 spots. Plus a late upgrade that really makes no difference. Then we take Nich or Monahan. No use trading down. We need 1 quality player. We can gamble with our second round picks.

I'm not ruling out Nichushkin but considering they have other needs to fill such as their defense and already have a solid top six, I'm saying it gives them a slight more reason to not draft him.

But in case you haven't looked up to my profile thing you'll see what team I like and by now you may know the player I want.
- RedC21

Drafting for need is usually a poor strategy. Needs should be filled through free agency and trades.

Taking the best player available is always the best long term strategy.

There are good players that teams may want all the way through the top 20. Who knows what scouts might suggest. There is always an odd ball pick that no one sees coming. We are certain of the top 3. That is a done deal.

On Bob Staufer today they had a writer from Florida and another one (didn't catch where, I was filling up with gas). They were suggesting that one of the two players Nashville has expressed interest in (other than Barkov) was Nich. Personally I thought they would pass on Barkov for having a Russian father but apparently they don't remember radulov. Barkov could very easily be available at number 5. It was the consensus of many, including one of the scouting services that Nich is better than Barkov and IMO its a coin toss.

It was also suggested that Horvat was extremely underrated and will go top 10. Lazar is projected to slip into the 20s. Horvat they are calling a more "pure center." Better in the dot and a two way guy. Personally I think we need to find a way to get Monahan or Nich. Lind is actually a really good player but I am not positive how good. I can see him slipping to the mid teams as some Europeans do.

Nurse is not a bad pick. Someone might bight on him. He is a safe pick. He will be at least a 3-4 dman, probably a 1-2. It might take him 4 years to get there but he is the only D that everyone agrees on other than Seth.

My vote:
Our 7th over all pick this year
Our 5th round pick this year
Acrobella

To Nashville
Their 4 th pick over all
and their 4th round this year

Acrobella is a great asset. A proven asset but he will mature when Rajala does and we can't play both. We have tried him in the NHL. It wasn't a good sign. He is worth bumping 3 spots though. Or to Carolina for 2 spots. Plus a late upgrade that really makes no difference. Then we take Nich or Monahan. No use trading down. We need 1 quality player. We can gamble with our second round picks.
- bsteinley

Arcobello has no trade value. An undersized player that is most likely a career AHLer isn't going to bring any great return. He might let us move up from round 5 to 4 like you have but no way he will move us up a round and 3 spots in the 1st. To move up that far is gonna cost us a 2nd rounder. This isn't NHL13 the GM on the other end of the phone is a person with common sense too (excluding Feaster)

Hemsky, 7th Overall, Conditional pick, Gernat for Yandle and a 3rd

Sign Stephen Weiss and Ryan Clowe

Resign Jones, Fistric and Gagner

Hall-Weiss-Yakupov
Clowe-RNH-Eberle
Paajarvi-Horcoff-Jones
Smyth-Lander-Brown

Yandle-Smid
Schultz x2
Fistric-Petry

That's a ton of size, speed, and skill on each line/pairing

Lets have this be the first summer in awhile where were NOT discussing where who the 1st rounder should be playing with. If they end up with Monahan or Shinkaruk (whoever), fine. I personally don't think any of the D are ready besides Jones.

Drafting for need is usually a poor strategy. Needs should be filled through free agency and trades.

Taking the best player available is always the best long term strategy.
- Sabata

This is blasphemy round' these parts

I mean you won't find an oiler fan that doubts Gagner more than I do. But the guy was just on pace for like 65 points + a 7th overall pick in the deepest draft in a decade.

That's not laughable
- TheNugeIsHuge

What's laughable is the fact that you think and not just you... that GAgner and a 1st will get you Yandle.

I'm quite sure there are many teams out there that can and will offer more to land Yandle.

Yandle is the type of player that's hard to find in this league.

Gagner ? Not so much.

Hemsky, 7th Overall, Conditional pick, Gernat for Yandle and a 3rd

Sign Stephen Weiss and Ryan Clowe

Resign Jones, Fistric and Gagner

Hall-Weiss-Yakupov
Clowe-RNH-Eberle
Paajarvi-Horcoff-Jones
Smyth-Lander-Brown

Yandle-Smid
Schultz x2
Fistric-Petry

That's a ton of size, speed, and skill on each line/pairing

Lets have this be the first summer in awhile where were NOT discussing where who the 1st rounder should be playing with. If they end up with Monahan or Shinkaruk (whoever), fine. I personally don't think any of the D are ready besides Jones.
- mochoson

So resign Gagner and have him a healthy scratch ?

Drafting for need is usually a poor strategy. Needs should be filled through free agency and trades.

Taking the best player available is always the best long term strategy.
- Sabata

True dat Oilers fan from Ottawa

Hemsky, 7th Overall, Conditional pick, Gernat for Yandle and a 3rd

Sign Stephen Weiss and Ryan Clowe

Resign Jones, Fistric and Gagner

Hall-Weiss-Yakupov
Clowe-RNH-Eberle
Paajarvi-Horcoff-Jones
Smyth-Lander-Brown

Yandle-Smid
Schultz x2
Fistric-Petry

That's a ton of size, speed, and skill on each line/pairing

Lets have this be the first summer in awhile where were NOT discussing where who the 1st rounder should be playing with. If they end up with Monahan or Shinkaruk (whoever), fine. I personally don't think any of the D are ready besides Jones.
- mochoson

Weisse can be a third liner, gagner the second line, rnh the 1st

Hemsky, 7th Overall, Conditional pick, Gernat for Yandle and a 3rd

Sign Stephen Weiss and Ryan Clowe

Resign Jones, Fistric and Gagner

Hall-Weiss-Yakupov
Clowe-RNH-Eberle
Paajarvi-Horcoff-Jones
Smyth-Lander-Brown

Yandle-Smid
Schultz x2
Fistric-Petry

That's a ton of size, speed, and skill on each line/pairing

Lets have this be the first summer in awhile where were NOT discussing where who the 1st rounder should be playing with. If they end up with Monahan or Shinkaruk (whoever), fine. I personally don't think any of the D are ready besides Jones.
- mochoson

You left out gagner after resigning

You could then use gagner plus a prospect to maybe get another top 4 guy. Maybe musil.

I wonder if signing bozak rather than Weiss is better as a stop gap at centre. We can then use gagner as a trade piece.

Edit: actually never mind. Weiss is better offensively. Just a bit older.

he just fits that 3C perfectly. Real safe pick. Him n Shinkaruk are the only guys I've seen more than 5 times in this draft. 3 times live each. Shinkaruk's an absolute work horse playing on a terrible team. TO fans should be hoping to trade up for him at 13.

Lazar's such a smart player and it's extremely likely he makes the NHL in the next 2-3-4 years and could replace Horcoff as the tough minutes eater.
- TheNugeIsHuge

You can sign a vet center for 2mil that replaces Horcoff. You don't draft 7th overall to find someone to replace Horcoff.

What's laughable is the fact that you think and not just you... that GAgner and a 1st will get you Yandle.

I'm quite sure there are many teams out there that can and will offer more to land Yandle.

Yandle is the type of player that's hard to find in this league.

Gagner ? Not so much.
- WaterBoy

yandle's great offensively, but has so many holes in his D game. He was exposed last year

What's laughable is the fact that you think and not just you... that GAgner and a 1st will get you Yandle.

I'm quite sure there are many teams out there that can and will offer more to land Yandle.

Yandle is the type of player that's hard to find in this league.

Gagner ? Not so much.
- WaterBoy

Your not right, but your also not wrong.

Teams can and would offer more for Yandle. But Gagner isnt exactly a nobody. Compare him to the rest of his draft class and then get back to me.

Oilers fans treat Gagner the same way Flyers fans treated Patrick Sharp. As a Flyers fan myself.....quit while your ahead.

You can sign a vet center for 2mil that replaces Horcoff. You don't draft 7th overall to find someone to replace Horcoff.
- Lahey

not 7th overall. That's why I suggested trading down from 7 and using what was received to move down+37th pick for a second first round pick to take him

So resign Gagner and have him a healthy scratch ?
- Ihatebrianburke

I'm staring at it wondering why Brown is in the line-up when I originally thought I had 13 forwards.

Need. More. Coffee.

yandle's great offensively, but has so many holes in his D game. He was exposed last year
- TheNugeIsHuge

I think there is still a spot for him on this team. We need a couple d-men and if one of them isn't Weber then I'd take a Yandle type and then a Morris/Klesla type.

not 7th overall. That's why I suggested trading down from 7 and using what was received to move down+37th pick for a second first round pick to take him
- TheNugeIsHuge

Still wouldn't like picking a guy that early in the draft that is a replacement for a guy that is easy replaceable by phoning a team like Boston who has 3 guys that could replace Horcoff available.

Weisse can be a third liner, gagner the second line, rnh the 1st
- Oilers4Life14

Gagner can play wing or stay at center, doesn't matter. Weiss and RNH are the top two though.

I wouldn't mind a big body like Bryan Bickell to play in the bottom 6 as well. Strong depth on the wings with another big body like that.

I personally love rolling 4 lines when I coach, so a center rotation of Weiss, Gagner, RNH, and Horcoff leaves someone like me drooling. Just need the proper wingers to make it work

yandle's great offensively, but has so many holes in his D game. He was exposed last year
- TheNugeIsHuge

eh?

Don't know why we are going after Weiss if we are keeping Gagner, they are very similar players except one is 7 years older and a UFA that probably makes at least 1mil more on the next contract.